Reviews

Reclaim the Crone

Devised & Performed by Gabrielle Leah New, Helen Smith & Karen Berger. The Space Before Performance Collective. Theatre Works at Explosives Factory. 17 – 27 July 2024

The title makes the intent and purpose of this show absolutely clear.  The play begins in darkness with an angry poem projected on the walls and on three huddled women.  It’s a protest at the invisibility of older women.  Women of a certain age will recognise this at once: so disregarded that they are almost literally invisible in public spaces – so that younger individuals will bump into them or force them off the pavement and into the gutter.  It’s not just their bodies: the invisibility extends to their life experience, sexuality, opinions and wisdom

Blood Wedding

By Frederico Lorca. Flight Path Theatre, Marrickville, Sydney. Partnered by Instituto Cervantes Sidney, supported by the Spanish Embassy. Produced and Directed by Diana Paolo Alvarado. July 17 – August 3, 2024

This is a brilliant telling of a Lorca masterpiece, unexpectedly tucked away in Marrickville’s flight-path-dominated little theatre. But the regular noise of landing planes could not affect the spell of this great play, nor dim the edge of what is a tight, expert production by Guetamalan producer/director Diana Paola Alvarado.

Hot love and betrayal in a rural Spanish village is on Lorca’s list, with coercion and revenge killings in strong support. Based on a true story of fatal feuding between two families, Lorca lets rip. Ms Alvarado takes up the challenge 100%.

By Jane’s Hand

Created by Emma O’Brien with Olivia O’Brien. Seldom Productions & La Mama. La Mama Courthouse, Carlton. 17 – 28 July 2024

Emma O’Brien and Olivia O’Brien combine, weave together, and segue between ‘fact’ (or what Jane Austen made of it in letters to her sister Cassandra) and fiction.  ‘Fiction’ being how Jane Austen turned life – what she observed and what she felt - into art.  Specifically here, the much-adapted Pride and Prejudice.  There is not a word in the O’Briens’ text that does not come from Jane’s hand.  And that text weaves into and out of the music of her time that Jane Austen transcribed - from children’s

The SpongeBob Musical (Youth edition)

By Kyle Jarrow. Adelaide Theatre Academy and Theatre Bugs. Goodwood Theatre, SA. July 18th to 20th, 2024

One of the delights of quality theatre devised for children and young people is the joy and playfulness it brings. Presented by a 30 strong ensemble who sing, dance, act and tap-dance their socks and flippers off, this is two alternating shows that highlights the SpongeBob common theme of environmental awareness. I saw Krabby Patty which is set in Bikini Bottom, an under the sea town.  I am very tempted to line up, as busloads of excited children did, to also see Chum Bucket.

Dave O’Neil: Overweight Lightweight

With Brad Oakes. The B – Queanbeyan Bicentennial Hall. 13 July 2024 and touring

You probably remember Dave O’Neil from the ABC show Spicks and Specks, Melbourne prime-time commercial radio gigs and stand-up comedy. Brad Oakes is best known for stand up on Hey Hey, It’s Saturday. Both have been entertaining audiences since the 1990s. The two have paired up to present a night of good-natured stand up.

How to Catch a Star

Writer/Director Sandra Eldridge. Composer Elena Kats-Chernin. Based on the children’s book by Oliver Jeffers. Australian Chamber Orchestra at Pier 2/3. July 6 – 11, 2024

How to Catch a Star at the Australian Chamber Orchestra at Pier 2/3 is an enchanting trip to the sky through the eyes of a child. Who hasn’t been obsessed with the stars? They capture the imagination of young and old, as does this delightful production. 

What a treat to be nestled on the Sydney Harbour alongside the glorious Harbour Bridge, with big windows in the corridor to the theatre. 

Possum Magic

By Mem Fox and Julie Viva, adapted by Eva Di Cesare and Sandie Eldridge. Monkey Baa Theatre Company. West HQ’s Sydney Coliseum Theatre. 12 – 13 July, 2024.

It is a magical first impression walking into the theatre, greeted by a set with gnarled trees, a giant moon and the soft sounds of the outback. The staff are all waving and smiling at children handing out booster seats, the smell of popcorn is in the air and families capture memories for the gram or to send to the gran with giant possum cut outs.

Cut Chilli

By Chenturan Aran. New Ghosts Theatre Company. Director David Burrowes. Old Fitz Theatre. July 5 – 27, 2024.

Cut Chilli is a “coming-of-age” story of a different kind. It’s even bigger than that really – because though it revolves around inter-country adoption practices and “the wilful naivety around the broken systems that have enabled its darker side”, it reaches beyond that to our own dark history of ‘stolen’ children, forced assimilation, supremacist policies and racism.

Little Women: The Broadway Musical

Music by Jason Howland. Book by Allan Knee. Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. Joshua Robson Productions. Hayes Theatre. July 12 – August 11, 2024

Little Women is one of the most perfectly constructed musicals based on a famous book. The musical’s construct is such that it manages to squeeze the key incidents from the book into a two hour musical, with enough songs to cover and explain events in a way that is precise and at times quite blindingly theatrical.

The book of the musical encapsulates a wonderful sense of community and family. With so many young characters it has achieved a degree of cult status in the school and youth theatre markets.

La Belle Époque

By Future D Fidel. Theatre Works, St Kilda. 10 – 20 July 2024

Isioma (Effie Nkrumah) is engaged to Chris (Mike Ugo) – well, they live together in Melbourne, and she is pregnant.  She wants them to marry, but Chris seems wary and there’s no way he can raise the traditional and expected dowry; he hasn’t even met her parents… 

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